Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1887-02-19
Sign oF rHE rAREE Balls.
A Chat With the Proprictor--sights in
Junk ShOp-Auctions.

OAAOAb-sAuStAOA4e
What field to the imaginative mind
is conjured up by the sign of three balls.
Let not the impecunious young man when
he resorts furtively to the house of his
uncle be unduly Inundated. Other
young men as well connected as he have
gone before him and will come after
him; and, indeed, if he deal with first
class establishment (for there are pawn
brokers and pawnbrokers), he viii find
his host very model of delicacy and dis
cretion.
Enter needy gentlewoman, heavily
veiled, at tho ladies' entrance. Timidly
she gazes around and finds herself in a
long, narrow hall, scrupulously neat and
well carpeted, from one side of which
opens row of little rooms. On the OPP
posite wall framed placard in gilt let
ters assures her that all will be conducted
upon strictly confidential basis, and
that any neglect or impertinence on the
part of employees is to be reported at the
Office. A deferential clerk motions her
to seat in one of the little rooms, which
is comfortably furnished and even decor
ated with photographs of actors and
actresses. If in immediate straits, she
may pledge her $3.50 sealskin for $50, or
valuable ring for the price of two days
board. If not, she will keep her sacque
or her ring and go her way, musing upon
the exceeding bitterness of want that adj
mits of no alternative. The average
dealer in collaterals is not creature of
tender sensibilities. But were the an
omaly of an impressionable pawnbroker
to be found gifted with the powers of a
reconteur, one might spend week with
him for the sake of hearing what he
could tell or suggest in the way of ro-
nance.
This watch with chased monogram,
is not the same that young Ncwcombe
Afontmorency said was at the jewelers.
for repairing? Verify it is. And when
one considers the intinitesimal salary of
young Newcombe, the flowers and opera
tickets which he lavishes upon Miss
Midas, the bills for carriage hire and per-
fumery! Poor fellow! Why. it is all as
plain as the nose on mans face. And
that necklace! Surely the visitor had
seen that before. And was it week or
a fortnight ago that Miss Midas maid
was seen stealthily emerging from the
rear entrance? Well, it is a known fact
that dressmakers and milliners have no
consciences. and the s'horrid things
na,lst be paid somehow, unless one chooses
to make ones own hats and dresses and
look like fright and what is one to
do with bills coming in and father that
RACES and swears and asks questions
about every one2
That rare old meerschaunl-wh hours
of quiet smoking and meditation it sug-
gests!
That quaint silver tankard? Ny uncle
is afraid that was not honestly come by.
1t was ''put up" by tough looking
customer, who was afterward wanted for
burglary.
ssAnd that locket? Tt was brought in
by handsome woman who had seen
better days. You'll see her initials in
diamonds on the other side. A very
striking looking woman. She seemed
quite desperate, too. Well, the next
week read of a suicide, and recognized
her by the description. / even went
around to the morgue to make certain.
Yes, yes, it's very sad business. But
often things are redeemed. Why, yes
terday a man took back his wife's dia-
monds that had been in pawn for ten
years. And some very swell people como
here to buy things. You'd be surprised
at the number of elegant Christmas and
wedding presents we sell--jcwelry, etc.
Polish 'em up, you know, and you won't
know 'em from first hand. The people
who get 'em think they all came from
some of those high toned places" And
my uncle chuckled complacently at the
recollection.
The junk shop, dark and III smelling,
reelZs of the sea. Sails and cordago are
there, and all manner Of flotsam: old iron
and copper, rags, sacks and bottles, and
heaps of unclassified rubbish. Is it pos
siblc that there can be demand for such
traslis All, yes; here is our old friend,
the rag. sack and bottle man himself
just as dirty, just as gruf as ever. But
he is not bargaining for big bottles at a
cent piece now, and, in d non-profes-
si0nal mood, relaxes to quite clever old
fellow. One learns from him how the
sails are repaired for use or cut into
smaller sails; how the bottles are washed
and resold, and work their way back into
good society; how the iron Is remelted,
utilized in hardware and the manufact-
ure Of horseshoes, cheap wagons, etc.
Il was here, now, that Jack Benedict
found that marvellous pair Of brass FIRE
a